Tuesday, 2 October 2012

Sam Buffington

Sam Buffington was a TV actor who appeared in occasional films. He was a supporting player and crammed over 40 appearances into his short career, which was cut short by his suicide at the age of 28. His balding appearance were that of a much older man, which got him parts as doctors, professors and sheriffs as well as bartenders. He was appearing in the Audie Murphy TV western series 'Whispering Smith' when he killed himself.

15 comments:

He was always so good. I like him as an obnoxious freeloader in a Hitchcock episode with Mildred Dunnock playing his sister. Sorry to hear of his suicide at such a young age. He could have given us many more years of excellent performances.

Look for it in Season 2, Episode 35, The West Warlock Timecapsule. I just watched it tonight from Netflix (Alfred Hitchcock Presents - 1956), and I also was impressed with Sam's performance. Enough that I looked him up, and found this website. I hope you see this soon. Andrea

I just watched the episode on AntennaTV, recorded yesterday's, and I did the same as you. He was so memorable I had to look him up. Ever watch American Dad? In the episode Haylias Stan hypnotizes Hayley into marrying a guy who HAD to have been based on Waldron (the mooch he played in "timecapsule"). This is the first time I saw him but recognized him immediately from American Dad. He made me hate him, which makes me love him. Sad ending to a great talent.

Sam Buffington was also the star of the short lived radio program "Luke Slaughter of Tombstone". There were only 16 total episodes and it aired February 23 through June 15, 1958. The program can be downloaded or streamed free here:

Sam Buffington starred in a short run (16 episodes) radio series LUKE SLAUGHTER of TOMBSTONE for CBS in the '50s. All 16 episodes are available for free download at the Internet Archive. Give it a listen!

Wonderful show Luke Slaughter of Tombstone, and Sam Buffington had a great voice. Equal quality program with radio shows such as Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, and one or two others. Worth listening to for sure.

you really have done a lot of footwork. that was amazingly informative for such an actor that seemed to have nothing to read about. i had been curious about him from watching whispering smith and amazed to learn he was only in his 20s